"THAT WAS A DAMN CLOSE CALL"

THE STORY OF BUCK HARDY, CONDEMNED MAN TURNS TO RELIGION JUST IN TIME

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 16, 1926, The Washington Times reports a story retold in a letter received by Rep. Frederick N. Zihlman*, chairman of the House District Committee favoring a bill "to prevent clergymen...from visiting the cells of condemned men" because it leads to "a mockery of religion."

The story goes...

Buck Hardy, a condemned man, was visited by ministers and prayed over by religious women for three days.  Then he was baptised in the Ohio River and the next day he was standing on a scaffold ready for the sheriff to give the order to spring the trap.  Just in time, a message arrived from the governor commuting his sentence.  Buck turned to the crowd & said...

"That was a damn close call."

*Frederick Nicholas Zihlman (1879-1935) was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania & served in the Maryland State Senate 1909-1917, & the US House of Representatives (R-MD) 1917-1931.

SOURCE

"'Converted' Prisoner Cussed on Scaffold," The Washington Times, Washington, D.C., January 16, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Frederick Nicholas Zihlman

R-Maryland

Photo by George Grantham Bain

Library of Congress

"FOR A VIGOROUS DEVELOPMENT POLICY"

HARDING ADVISED BY FOCHT ON DISTRICT NEEDS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 6, 1921, President Warren G. Harding was advised on the needs of the District of Columbia by Representative Benjamin K. Focht* (R-Pennsylvania), chairman of the House District Committee.

Mr. Focht found the President "very much in sympathy with his own policy for the development of Washington."  He said President Harding "favors a comprehensive and vigorous development policy."

The most important needs, according to the chairman, were street railway legislation and adequate school development.

*Benjamin Kurtz Focht (1863-1937) was born in New Bloomfield, PA & educated at Bucknell University & Pennsylvania State College.  BKF was a member of U.S. Congress 1907-1913, 1915-1923, 1933-1937.

SOURCE

"Focht Takes D.C. Needs in Congress to the President," The Evening Star, July 6, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Rep. Benjamin K. Focht

R-Pennsylvania

National Photo Company

Library of Congress